Comprehensive Exam:
Last semester, we were surprised that there is such thing and it is required for us to graduate. Now, where should the announcement come from?! Who knows?
Anyhow, yes, we have comprehensive exams and a Foreign Language Test which I do not know what it is all about. This semester, we need to take the exams already as this is our 3rd Semester and we only have 1 more semester left after this semester.
In total, we need to take 3 comprehensive exams and a foreign language test. There is an academic calendar isn't it? How come everyone is just used to announcing that there will be something scheduled when there is only 1 or 2 weeks left. Okay, I asked for the Academic Calendar even before the semester started but only the 2010 Academic Calendar is being sent to me. Are we still living within the past?
Anyway, apparently, they do not have the English Version of the Academic Calendar. So here we go again, I have to try and figure out what is the Korean for Comprehensive Exam. It is supposed to be during 7-25 March 2011. I asked and asked, no one can answer.
Finally, our TA sent us an email that we will be having the Foreign Language Test. So I asked:
Me: What will the exam be about? When will the exam be?
TA: I do not know.
Okay, I thought Assistants should know everything because they are the ones assisting us in this institution. How come it seems like they are mere messengers? Won't it be very much productive if they can process the information given to them and ask whoever in-charge whatever missing information was given to them? Can we just have this common sense working?
I followed up again, Monday, 14 March 2011, when will our comprehensive exams be? And that was the only time they thought of advising us. I received an email 15 March that our exam will be on 22 March morning wherein we have a class. Yet the TA still insisted that we have to take it because there is no room available on our desired date and time. (Isn't it ridiculous?) Anyhow, a miracle happened in the afternoon, we have a workable schedule but then its just less then a week left and we do not know where to start.
Today - 17 March 2011 - We received an email saying that we cannot take the other comprehensive exam because the professor who taught that subject was not a professor in this institution. Where again is this rule coming from? Will the professor teach us if he/she was not hired by this institution? What is the purpose of the comprehensive exam for OUR MAJOR if we are not going to take the exam for our MAJOR subjects? whew.
Anyhow, one of my friends is trying to calm me down with this: "Its okay, he/she is just an assistant". My answer was: If you are a manager and another department's assistant gave you an instruction or statement for a project that your company/ organization is working on and when you asked for details, he/she just answered back with "I do not know", how will you feel?
Well, it may not be fully the fault of the assistant but then the process also has something to do with it that the management has implemented.
But still, even if it is hard, I thank these bad experiences and processes that I get to see, realize and understand that I will never be like them. Still - its a learning experience. the hard way.
I wonder why I at all have came here for the degree. But then I learned a lot from my extra curricular activities which I hope is more than enough in return..... I hope..
3:50pm Korean Time
I followed up again, Monday, 14 March 2011, when will our comprehensive exams be? And that was the only time they thought of advising us. I received an email 15 March that our exam will be on 22 March morning wherein we have a class. Yet the TA still insisted that we have to take it because there is no room available on our desired date and time. (Isn't it ridiculous?) Anyhow, a miracle happened in the afternoon, we have a workable schedule but then its just less then a week left and we do not know where to start.
Today - 17 March 2011 - We received an email saying that we cannot take the other comprehensive exam because the professor who taught that subject was not a professor in this institution. Where again is this rule coming from? Will the professor teach us if he/she was not hired by this institution? What is the purpose of the comprehensive exam for OUR MAJOR if we are not going to take the exam for our MAJOR subjects? whew.
Anyhow, one of my friends is trying to calm me down with this: "Its okay, he/she is just an assistant". My answer was: If you are a manager and another department's assistant gave you an instruction or statement for a project that your company/ organization is working on and when you asked for details, he/she just answered back with "I do not know", how will you feel?
Well, it may not be fully the fault of the assistant but then the process also has something to do with it that the management has implemented.
But still, even if it is hard, I thank these bad experiences and processes that I get to see, realize and understand that I will never be like them. Still - its a learning experience. the hard way.
I wonder why I at all have came here for the degree. But then I learned a lot from my extra curricular activities which I hope is more than enough in return..... I hope..
3:50pm Korean Time
